About
The character for "enemy" or "foe" has a history where its form and core meaning have shifted in relation. Its traditional form, "敵", is constructed from two primary components: on the left, "啇", which serves a phonetic function, and on the right, "攵", a radical depicting a hand holding a stick, associated with action or striking. This structure originally conveyed a sense of being a matched adversary, one who is an equal or counterpart in a conflict, implying a state of opposition rather than inherent hatred. Over time, this notion of a matched opponent narrowed and intensified into the modern understanding of "enemy". The simplified form "敌" replaced the complex phonetic element with "舌", meaning "tongue", a change that introduces a possible association with verbal conflict or hostility, though this is considered a phonetic simplification rather than a meaningful etymological shift.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我们有敌人。
敌机在空中飞行。
他对我们怀有敌意。
两国处于敌对状态。
士兵们正在侦察敌情。
在比赛中，他遇到了强大的敌手。
尽管有敌视的态度，他们还是进行了对话。
为了战胜敌人，我们必须团结一致。